GPs warn 30 November 'day of action' will increase workload

Dr Vautrey: ‘Patients whose hospital appointments have been cancelled will be coming to us'

On Wednesday public sector unions will strike over proposed reforms to public sector pensions on the so-called 'day of action'.

GPC deputy chairman Dr Richard Vautrey warned that consequences of the strikes, such as demands for sick notes and reduced hospital services, were likely to increase GP workload.

PCTs were recently advised by NHS Employers that they may wish to request sick notes from staff who take the day off on the ‘day of action’.

Dr Vautrey said: ‘The biggest impact will be from public sector employees requiring sick notes. Those unnecessary consultations will have a knock-on effect (on GP workload).’

Sick notesDr John Hughes of The Association of LMCs across Greater Manchester described the sick note requirements as a ‘completely inappropriate use of a doctor's time.

‘Some GP practices will already be under strain because of industrial action by staff. Adding an unnecessary administrative task to their workload is unacceptable and would undoubtedly make it harder for patients to get appointments,’ Dr Hughes said.

'Some people may well be running a semi-emergency service due to the increase workload,' he added.

Dr Vautrey said that hospitals running bank holiday staff services would also have an effect on practices.

‘Patients whose hospital appointments have been cancelled will be coming to us,’ he said.

Impact of strikesDr Rob Barnett, Liverpool LMC secretary agreed. Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, he said: ‘We are worried ill people who need to see a doctor will have problems. Also because hospitals will operate a bank holiday service this may increase the amount of patients coming to us.’

Dr Barnett said that although he was concerned over the impact of schools closing would have on staff levels and the number of patients attending the practice, he said it was difficult to predict what would happen.

'Either families will have a day out at the surgery or they wont come at all,' he said.

Dr Hughes said that fracture clinics and orthopaedic clinics were likely to be closed due to physiotherapists striking, and GPs would not be able to run blood tests for the day due to a lack of hospital staff.